Rocker lock mechanism



Oct. 6, 1959 A. J. KATZ 2,907,373

ROCKER LOCK MECHANISM Filed Jan. 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ALEX J. KA TZ Oct. 6, 1959 A. J. KATZ 2,907,373

ROCKER LOCK MECHANISM Filed Jan. 14, '1958 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. ALEX .J- K4 rz ATTVRIVEX United States Patent ROCKER LOCK MECHANISM Alex -I. Katz, West Orange, NJ., assignor to SuperSagless Spring Corp., Hoboken, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Application Januai-y 14, 1953, Serial No. 708,883

11 Claims. '(Cl.15572) This invention relates to platform rocking chairs of the type wherein a seat is rockable with respect to a supporting base and is directed particularly to an improved lock mechanism for releasably locking the rockable seat in any adjusted position with respect to the baseas may be desired from time to time.

to the main bracket and operative to releasably jam the swing plate in fixed position with respect to the main bracket for locking the rocker seat in any desired position along its path of swinging movement with respect to the chair base. 7 I

Another object ofthe invention is to provide an improved rocker lock mechanism of the character described that is simple and compact in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and install, and foolproof and durable in operation; g v l Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings- GT2. g i

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view, with portions broken away, of a platform rocker showing a lock mechanism embodying the invention assembled thereto;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view, of the lock mechanism .of Fig- 1, shown separately, as seen from above;

Fig; 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of'the'l'ock mechanism, taken along the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of the lock mechanism, shown in fully extended condition.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral in Fig. 1 illustrates a platform rocker comprising a base 11 and a seat structure 12 rockably supported with respect to the base. The base 11 comprises a pair of spaced side support members 13 (only one shown) secured together by a framework comprising a front lateral member 14 which extends beyond the outer side surface of the illustrated support member 13, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The seat structure 12 comprises the usual framework, not illustrated in detail herein, to which is secured a pair of rockers 15 (only one shown), one arranged above each of the top flat surface edges of the support members 13. Secured between the front ends of the rockers 15 is a lateral member 16 which also extends beyond the outer side surface of the illustrated rocker 15, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Spring devices 17 of known construction interconnect extending through a circular opening in said plate a' 2,907,373 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 the rockers 15 and base support members 13 at each side of the chair 10 for urging the seat 12 into normal upright position with respect to the base 11. The spring devices 17 allow resilient rocking by the chair occupant when desired. 7

The rocker lock mechanism embodying the invention is shown separately in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. of the drawings and indicated generally by reference numeral 18. ,The lock mechanism 18 is comprised'of a main plate 19 formed with a right-angular base 20. Pivoted near, the outer end of the main plate 19 by means of a rivet"21 swing plate 22. As best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the head of the rivet 21 is spaced at one side of the main plate 19 by a spring washer 23, and the swing plate 22 is spaced from the other side of said main plate by a pair of washer-like spacers 24 and 25', spacer 24 of which is preferably of steel and spacer 25 of which is preferably of nylon to insure smooth, non-binding swinging operation.

The swing plate 22 is provided with an arcuate slot 26 concentric with its pivotal" axis. The main plate 19 is provided with a circular opening 27 below the pivotal axis of the swing plate 22 and in register with the arcuate slot 26qtherein. Swedged within the open ing 27 is an internally-threaded plug nut 28. Extending through the arcuate slot 26 in the swing plate 22 and threadedly received in the plug nut 28 is the screwthreaded end 29 of a turn rod 30. The outer end of the turn rod 30 is provided with a right. angularly bent operating handle 31.

A steel, washer-like lock disc 32'is fitted in thescrew threaded end of the turn rod 30 between the main plate 19 and the swing plate 22, its thickness being-about equal to the combined thickness of the spacers 24'and 25. a A washer 33 is fitted on the turn rod'30 adjacent the outer surface of the swing plate 22. .A pair of inner nuts 34 and outer jam nuts 35 are fixed in adjusted position adjacent the washer 33 and the plug nut 28.

The swing plate 22 is formed with an outwardly projecting portion 36 to which one end of a connecting link 37 is pivotally connected by a rivet '38. A washer 39 is fitted on the rivet 38' between the swing plate 22 and the connecting link 37. The outer end of the connecting link 37 is pivotally connected to a right-angular bracket 40 by. a rivet 41. V A washer 42 is fitted between Qthe bracket 40 and the connecting link 37.

Referring now to Fig. 1, and considering the opera- I tion of the lock mechanism 18, it will be seen that as the seat structure 12 is rocked backwardly with respect to the side support members 13, the connecting link will serve to pull the swing plate 22 downwardly with respect to the rocker 15, and that the backward rocking motion will be limited by the upward extent of the arcuate slot 26 in said swing plate. There is enough a space between the inner jam nuts 34 and the outer jam nuts 35 when the turn rod 40 is adjusted to the outermost position, that is, when the inner one of the jam nuts 35 abuts the plug nut 28, so that the swing plate 22 can swing freely for rocking motion. When the turn rod is adjusted inwardly, however, the innermost jam nut 34 will bear against the washer 33 and jam the swing plate against the main plate 19 through the lock disc 32, thereby preventing any relative movement between-the seat structure 12 and the base 11 endfixing the seat in the erect position or any desired inclined position within the limits of normal rocking motion.

While-there hasbeen illustrated and described herein one' for n in which the invention may conveniently-be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this example is given by way of-example only, and that the invention is not to be limited thereby, but only by the scope and spirit of'the following claims;

What is claimed as new and for which it is desired to ;s ecurefLet ters Patent, is:

1. =-In a lock mechanism for rocker chairs, the combinationcom'prlsing a main plate adapted to be fixed- -to;the rockable chair seat, a swing plate pivotally secured to said'tn ain plate, abase bracket adaptedto be fixed tothe chair base, a link interconnecting said swing plate and said bracket, said swing plate being formed with an arcuateslot poncentric withits pivotal axis and spaced to the rockable chair seat, a swing plate pivotally secured to said main plate, a base bracket adapted to be fixed to the chair base, a 'link interconnecting said swing plate and said bracket, said swing plate being formed with an arcnate slot concentric with its pivotal axis and spaced from thepivotalconnection of said link to said swing plate, said main plate being provided with a threaded opening in register with said arcuate slot, a rotatable threaded control rod extending through said slot and extending 'threadedly through said threaded openi gand adjustable stop means on said control rod adjacent said swing plate foriforcing said swing plate toward saidrnain plate upon actuation of said control rod in one direction of rotation.

3. The rocker lock mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said threaded opening is formed in a ,plug nut swedged in said main plate.

4. The rocker lock mechanism asdefined in claim -2 wherein said adjustable stop means comprises a pairof 5 u 'a n ed 0, 1 saidwn d- SKTht-Z'rlfQCkt?! lock mechanism as defined in claim 3 including adjustable stop means on-said control rod adjacent said .plug nut for limiting rotation of said control rod in the other direction.

'6. The rocker lock mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said last mentioned adjustable stop means comprises a pair of jam nuts arranged on said control rod.

7. A rocker lock mechanism comprising a main plate, a swing plate pivotally secured to said main plate, spacing means between said swing plate and said main plate at their pivotal connection, a base bracket a link interconnecting said swing-plate and said base bracket, said swing .plate b ing PIQ G SI w th sr at s o c. 1

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vided with a threaded opening in register with said uat isle th a ed con r rod e n ng through said slot and extending through said threaded opening, a lock disc in regiter. with .s aid arcuate slot and arranged on said control rod and between said main plate and said swing plate, and stop means on said control rod adjacent said swing plate for forcing said swing plate toward said-main -plate upon actuation of said control rod in one direction of-rotation.

' 8. The rockerlock mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said spacing means comprises a nylon washer and'a steel washerback-to-back.

9. The rocker 'lock'meehanism-as defined in claim 7 'wherein 'said threaded opening is formed in a .plug nut swedged in said main plate.

'10; In a lock-mechanism for a chair having a fixed part and a movable part, the combination comprising a first plate adapted to be fixed :to one of said "parts -a swing plate pivotally secured-to said'first plate, a bracket adapted to be hired to-the other part, a link pivotedat andmeans on saidrod -for clamping said swing plateto said-first plateupon-rotating said rod in one direction.

1-1. The combination of claim 10, said arciiate edge being part of an arcuate slot formed in said swing plate, with said opening in said first plate registering with said arcuate slot.

References Cited in the tile of this patent N TED S ATE ATEN S 7 

